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Last week, three young adults between the ages of 17 and 20 were hospitalized in Mobile County to treat vaping-related illnesses.
The dangers of vaping have attracted national attention. The seventh death in the United States attributed to a lung disease attributed to a vaping was reported this week. There are currently 380 confirmed and probable cases of pulmonary disease associated with vaping in 36 states.
"US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has stated that the use of e-cigarettes among young people is an epidemic." The County of Mobile's health department acknowledges the seriousness of the situation and is working with local authorities and medical facilities to educate the public about the dangers of inhaling vapors, "said Susan Stiegler, head of health of Mobile County.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children reported that 24.5% of high school students in Alabama use e-cigarettes, compared to 20.8% nationally.
"Of the nearly 5 million youth who use one type of tobacco product, more than 3 million use electronic cigarettes. Too many young people think that vaping is a safer alternative than traditional tobacco products, but some of these devices can provide as much nicotine in a cartridge as in a pack of cigarettes. We want people to understand the dangers of smoking and pursue a healthy, tobacco-free lifestyle, "said Scott Harris, Public Health Officer for Alabama.
On August 1, Alabama passed a new law on vaping that introduces major changes for retailers who advertise and / or sell alternative nicotine products, including vaporizers and liquids. These changes are aimed at limiting marketing targeted at minors and limiting their access to alternative nicotine products.
"We do not know the long-term effects of vaping and there is certainly something to be done. The only thing I can think of to try to solve the problem in young people is to set an age limit to be able to buy these products, such as tobacco, and to monitor what is added to these products, said Alan Collins, senior at Samford University. in secondary education.
Collins has worked in various high schools to meet the requirements of the curriculum in order to graduate and obtain his teaching license. He mentioned having had several meetings with students who were stuffing themselves, including cases where he had caught students ejaculating in the washrooms at school.
Wilson High School in Florence, Alabama, experienced the same problems as Collins and removed the doors of the restroom stalls to discourage the use of steam in their restrooms.
A new law will come into effect on October 1 and will ban the sale of steam products and electronic cigarettes to minors.
"I know a lot of university students who daily vape, and even more vape in social contexts such as parties. I think this definitely becomes a problem and that age limits when buying vaping products must be strictly enforced, "said Richard Chapman, a native of Mobile and a graduate of UMS-Wright.
Chapman also believes that the sale of cheap third-party options for internet vape products and local vape stores contributes to the reported diseases in Mobile County.
Health officials have recommended that you stop taking vapors if you experience symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and tiredness, with worsening of symptoms several days or weeks before your admission to the hospital.
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